In the first part of this fantastic two-part episode, we introduce Leanne Herring, a passionate teacher whose love for education began as a six-year-old teaching her teddies. Spanning a decade-long teaching career across four schools, Leanne’s story unfolds with both moments of joy and deep challenges.

Leanne reflects on her first school, where creativity flourished and she thrived, only to move to a second school where a toxic "mean girl" culture took its toll. From being excluded in staffrooms to enduring relentless microaggressions, Leanne recounts the pivotal moment when a confidential grievance letter she submitted was dismissed – and later shared with colleagues behind her back.

Through her experiences at her final school – a new academy rife with micromanagement and extreme scrutiny – Leanne paints a vivid picture of her fight to maintain her integrity and creativity amidst an oppressive system.

This episode explores:

• The impact of toxic school cultures on mental and physical health.
• The importance of trusting your instincts when the red flags appear.
• How Leanne made the courageous decision to leave teaching for good.

Don’t forget to tune in for Part 2, where Leanne shares how she rebuilt her life and discovered joy in a new career.

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Edited with finesse by our Podcast Super Producer, Mike Roberts of Making Digital R...